Helsinki City Guide - Getting Around

Helsingin Kaupungin Liikennelaitos - HKL (tel: (09) 010 0111; website www.hel.fi/hkl) operates the metro, local trams, buses and the ferry to Suomenlinna. Buses and trams run from 0545 to 2345, while the metro operates from 0530 to 2330. Tickets are cheaper if purchased in advance. Transfers are allowed for single and multi-trip tickets within one hour of the time stamped on the ticket upon initial boarding. Tickets are available from newsagents (R-kioskis), metro stations, the City of Helsinki Tourist Office (see Sightseeing) and the post office. A penalty fare is payable for travel without a valid ticket.

The HKL Tourist Ticket allows for unlimited travel on all buses, trams, metro and local trains within Helsinki. One-, three- and five-day tickets are available.

Most taxis are Mercedes, and can be hailed on the street or booked by telephone. Vehicles in the city are operated by Helsinki Taxi Centre (tel: (09) 700 700). A taxi is available for hire if the yellow 'TAXI' dome is lit. As a general rule, tipping is not expected.

As the public transport system is excellent and most of central Helsinki is accessible on foot, it is not necessary to take a car into Helsinki city centre. Visitors that do drive should be aware that Helsinki rush hours are from about 0730 to 0900 and 1700 to 1800.

The city is divided into three parking zones, of which Zone I (I-vyöhyke) is the most central and the most costly. With a few exceptions, parking is free after 1800. Parking meters take ordinary coins or parking cards, which can be purchased in advance from R-kioski (newsagents) and service stations. The major car parks are located at the Shopping Centre Forum, Mannerheimintie 20, and Shopping Centre Kluuvi, Aleksanterinkatu 9.

Car hire is available at the airport, railway station, major hotels and tourist offices. Operators include Avis, Hietaniemenkatu 6 (tel: (09) 441 155; website: www.avis.com), Budget, Malminkatu 24 (tel: 02074 66600; website: www.budget.fi), Europcar, Mekaanikonkatu 10 (tel: 04030 62804; website: www.europcar.fi), Hertz, Mannerheimintie 44 (tel: 02055 52300; website: www.hertz.fi), and Sixt, Tyopajakatu 2 (tel: (09) 350 5590; website: www.e-sixt.com).

The minimum age for car hire varies from 19 to 25 years, depending on the hire company, with extra charges made for additional drivers. An EU driving licence or an International Driving Permit is required, including one year's driving experience. A credit card is usually needed as a deposit. Fuel is not included in the rates and Collision Damage Waiver is extra.

Owing to Helsinki's flat topography, bicycles are a popular way of getting around, and cycle tracks run alongside footpaths. It should be noted that all bicycle traffic lights must be observed to avoid a fine.

From June to late August, City Bikes are available from stands around the city upon payment of a small deposit, which is repaid on the bicycle's return. The City of Helsinki Tourist Office offers details of this hire scheme, while information about cycling events is available from the Cycling Union of Finland, Radiokatu 20 (tel: (09) 278 6575; website: www.pyoraily.fi (Finnish only)). Bicycles are available for hire from Greenbike, Bulevardi 32 (tel: (0) 5040 40400; website: www.greenbike.fi).

During the summer, rowing boats and kayaks are a popular way of island hopping and getting around Helsinki's shoreline. These are available for hire from Cat Sport Oy (tel: (041) 530 9240; website: www.multi.fi/~catsport/vuokraamo.html) at the Toolonlahti kiosk on the Finlandia Hall shore and Rastila Camping, Karavaanikatu 4 (tel: (09) 321 6551; website: www.hel2.fi/liv/rastila/rastilaenglish.html), in Vuosaari in Eastern Helsinki.